Jarhead Movie
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Storyline
TAGLINES
Every man fights his own way.
Welcome To The Suck
Jarhead (the self-imposed moniker of the Marines) follows "Swoff" (Gyllenhaal), a third-generation enlistee, from a sobering stint in boot camp to active duty, sporting a sniper's rifle and a hundred-pound ruck on his back through Middle East deserts with no cover from intolerable heat or from Iraqi soldiers, always potentially just over the next horizon. Swoff and his fellow Marines sustain themselves with sardonic humanity and wicked comedy on blazing desert fields in a country they don't understand against an enemy they can't see for a cause they don't fully fathom... Foxx portrays Sergeant Sykes, a Marine lifer who heads up Swofford's scout/sniper platoon, while Sarsgaard is Swoff's friend and mentor, Troy, a die-hard member of STA-their elite Marine Unit.
| Jake Gyllenhaal | Swoff |
| Scott MacDonald | D.I. Fitch |
| Lo Ming | Bored Gunny |
| Kevin Foster | Branded Marine |
| Peter Sarsgaard | Troy |
| Damion Poitier | Poitier |
| Riad Galayini | Nurse |
| Craig Coyne | Young Mr. Swofford |
| Katherine Randolph | Young Mrs. Swofford |
| Rini Bell | Swoff's Sister |
| Dendrie Taylor | Mrs. Swofford |
| James Morrison | Mr. Swofford |
| Arman Zajic | Boy Swoff |
| Brianne Davis | Kristina |
| Jamie Foxx | Staff Sgt. Sykes |
| Sam Mendes |
7.30 out of 10 (29913 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Every War Movie is Different. Every War Movie is the Same.
posted on 24 Aug 2009More than anyone, I would imagine that U.S. Soldiers would have a more specific opinion of this film than anyone else. They were there, they were in it, no one knows better than they.And there are two kinds of soldiers: those who loved it, who took great pride and honor in serving their country... and those who saw it as just a job, got out, and got on with their lives. "Jarhead" is based on a book, written by a U.S. Marine, who falls squarely into the second category.He does not judge, he does not come out as for or against the war. This is not a political movie, yet will still make some people uncomfortable, and it should. "Jarhead" lays out the experience of one particular Marine from boot camp, to (suddenly) Operation Desert Shield, to Operation Desert Storm. What happens here is not always pretty, but it is the truth, and the truth should be all we can ask for.The screenplay was adapted by William Broyles Jr., who in addition to some TV work, adapted the recent "Planet of the Apes" remake, and "Cast Away." Personally, I didn't think either of these films were anything special, which is why "Jarhead" is such a surprise. Not a lot blows up, there's no huge siege like in your typical Vietnam movie... it's a surprisingly affecting study of this one man, the experiences he had, the people he knew. It's about the Corps, and it's about brotherhood. Our main character, Swof, never judges, never mentions politics, is only the best Marine that he knows how to be.As Swof's friend Troy says at one point, "F*** politics. We're here. All the rest is bull****." Which is all the movie is about, really. This is what happened. Take it or leave it.
tension throughout
posted on 22 Aug 2009Tension. Tension between wanting to do your job and wanting to do anything to get out of the sand. Tension between wanting to kill and being repulsed by the very idea of killing. Tension between the disgust you feel for the inescapable vulgarness of certain others and the realization of how close any one of us is to that same vulgarity.The exaggerated tension of wartime is what Mendes displays brilliantly in "Jarhead". You feel, intensely, the conflicted emotions and thoughts that are unavoidable in the situation that so many soldiers have found themselves in, whether in Iraq, Viet Nam or WWII Europe/Pacific.Mendes does such a brilliant job of evoking that tension in this movie that I had to give it a 10 even as I admit that there were shortcomings in certain areas. The movie overcame all of the shortcomings in my mind. Certain parts came out of nowhere without any warning or further development. I'm guessing that some of that development is on the cutting room floor, as the movie is long already. I'd like to see the director's cut.The biggest hurdle for me was accepting Gyllenhaal as a twenty year old. That's not to say that he didn't do an outstanding job, he did. I just think that his physical and emotional maturity betrayed some of even greater sympathy that could be due a young soldier in the situation presented.The emotional letdown of the ending is actually what ties one to the character in a way that could not be done otherwise. I think that it is a major part of the genius of the film.
Very good
posted on 20 Aug 2009This movie is not what I expected. I expected your typical war movie, with carnage, killing, gun fights, bombs, etc. That was not at all what this movie was about. That being said it was still a good movie.The movie looks more at the psyche and life of the soldiers in the first Gulf War. Now there wasn't much ground combat in the Gulf War, and a lot of sitting around for the ground forces. This movie showed perfectly the stress of anticipation and its effects of moral and the minds of the soldiers. It also showed, to a small degree, the interaction between soldiers and their loved ones back home. Jake Gyllenhal and Jamie Foxx are incredible together. If both of these guys aren't nominated for an Oscar I will be shocked. Gyllenhal portrays every emotion perfectly. The fear, the anger, the mental break down, everything. Foxx is excellent in his supporting role as the staff sargent. He is an excellent mentor figure. Overall this movie, while lacking in action, is very very good. You should not let the fact that it is "a war movie with no war" deter you from seeing it.
Do not go in expecting a war flick
posted on 20 Aug 2009Clear your head before going into the theater to see this film . . . and I demand you see it in the theater. The elements of photography (i.e. symmetry and "guided eye") in this film will never be as much enjoyed on any plasma screen or high definition projector.Jarhead is not a war film. It is a political film set in a war environment - executed with perfection. Until now, I had never granted a film a "10" rating, and I'm not even a fan of war films. This film is enriched with depth and symbolism. This, even with Mendes' name behind it, I did not expect nearly to the extent in which he reached. My favorite moment included a certain oil-covered stallion. What is this horse's name do you think?
A Compelling Character Study
posted on 18 Aug 2009First there was American Beauty, a touching comedic drama about suburban family life. Then there was Road To Perdition, a masterful Prohibition-era gangster film. And now there's Jarhead, a unique Gulf War film. I think, with his first three films, director Sam Mendes has proved not only that he is obviously one of the most versatile filmmakers around, but also one of the most talented.Jarhead is the true story of Swofford (Gyllenhaal), a US Marine who endures the hell of boot camp on the boredom of Operation Desert Storm.Jarhead takes a very unique and original approach to the war genre. In a sense, it conveys the standard "war is hell" message, but not in the same blood-spattered manner that the likes of Saving Private Ryan or Black Hawk Down did. Instead, the Marines of Jarhead are in hell in the sense that they're bored and lonely. Swofford is afraid, but not for his life, but for what his girlfriend may be doing in his absence. These young men are raging piles of testosterone with no release. Boot camp pumped up their blood-lust to an inhuman degree, and when there are no enemies to kill, all that's left for them to do is screw around and masturbate. Masturbate a lot.Jarhead strikes me as one of the most realistic depictions of modern war ever printed on celluloid. I don't understand how so many people could be claiming that the film is so inaccurate - after all, the book it is based on was written by a Marine. There is no over-the-top action combat a la Behind Enemy Lines, nor is there constant realistic battle like in Saving Private Ryan - after all, modern warfare is not exactly going to be like World War II. There is actually hardly a single bullet fired throughout the entirety of Jarhead's running time, which is going to be the main factor in causing multitudes of people to be terribly bored with the film. Let's get one thing straight: this is NOT a film about combat. This is a compelling character study dealing with the effects of military training on the human soul.Another misconception people seem to be having is that Jarhead has a strong leftist political agenda. While it is certainly not a pro-war film, I wouldn't necessarily say it is anti-war, either. It really just shows war as it is, like Full Metal Jacket. And keep in mind, this is only through the eyes of one Marine.Though it features no actual combat, Jarhead still contains some extremely affecting scenes, and one that is actually very hard to watch, that being a scene in which a Marine sits down to watch a VHS copy of The Deer Hunter that his wife sent to him, only to find that she has spliced in footage of her having sex with another man. Watching the husband's reaction is a very difficult task. I found myself so deeply affected by this scene that I actually felt a little sick and had a hard time moving on as the film kept rolling.However, Jarhead is certainly not an unrelenting downer. There is a great deal of scathing humor, almost to the point of making the film a very dark comedy.Mendes really does show off some remarkable talent here, as he did in his two previous films. And the acting...wow, it's phenomenal. Jake Gyllenhaal delivers his most impressive performance to date, as does Peter Sarsgaard. Chris Cooper is great as always, though underused, and Jamie Foxx gives a wonderful, nuanced performance, and that's saying a lot, as up until this film I found him to be one of the most overrated actors in recent memory. The rest of the supporting cast is excellent, as well.Though I did not find the score to be particularly good, the soundtrack here is magnificent. On top of PERFECTLY utilizing Nirvana's highly underrated gem "Something In The Way", Jarhead also features Tom Waits' "Soldier's Things", an instrumental version of Kanye West's "Jesus Walks", and many others.If you're looking for an action-packed war film, don't go to Jarhead. However, if you're looking for a stunningly different portrait of human beings in the military, this one's for you.8/10
Best non-action movie of the year!
posted on 16 Aug 2009I saw this movie last night at a special screening. This film is generally well made and entertaining, however, there is really no story. In one line: Boy joins military, boy spends time in desert, boy comes home. Big deal. Jake Gyllenhaal and Jamie Foxx are both good actors and both do a great job, along with the other actors in the film. It is well made, just a bit frustrating to watch. Sort of a non-action film, so to speak. It is interesting to see the transition these men go through, even though it has been done before....just this time with sand instead of jungle. If you are a fan of of watching young men, in various stages of undress, and many homo erotic scenes (which I am), then you may enjoy it. If not for these things and the shower scene, I really wouldn't recommend seeing this one at all. All in all, it was an enjoyable way to spend an evening, and it was free. If I had paid for it, I would be less impressed and would suggest waiting for the DVD.
great name! so so movie!!!!!!!!
posted on 12 Aug 2009I never was a marine, so there is no home coming for me watching this movie. No memories to relive, to make this movie come alive. Great Cinematography in a war movie without much action, is like having sex and no climax. you don't feel fulfilled. The movie started out great, hard as nails drill instructor. Pass the butter popcorn please, don't disturb me now, This is going to be a fantastic flick. Never made it out of boot camp. I should have listen to clerk at blockbuster, who said this is a slow moving movie. I will not say this movie is a dry as desert sand, but you better have a six pack to wash it down, Because you will be in for a let down if this is what you came for. Forgive me, I just expected much much more with a movie named Jarhead.
Nothing new here
posted on 12 Aug 2009This movie is really quite superfluous.Apart from the beautiful cinematography and the great music which raise this movie a little above the mediocre, there's really nothing much to comment on. Great acting by Jake Gyllenhaal, yeah.A bunch of bored marines in the desert, waiting for the war to begin, then going home again. Well. Nothing new here.We already know what happens in basic training, having seen plenty of movies and read tons of books.And those who have read newspapers already know what really happened in the Gulf war. Um, well, those that have read the non-US-newspapers of course.So, I must admit that I was quite bored by this movie.
OVerall a really good movie
posted on 08 Aug 2009Before I saw this movie I had been seeing all the bad reviews it got. I said well you know what i am going to go see it anyway. I just got back and let me say, I was not disappointed at all. I am pro war in certain circumstances and i feared like much of the stuff that comes from the media this was going to be another anti-war, anti-military movie. However, I was wrong. This is the story of a marine who enlists in the army hoping to serve his country but he doesn't get what he expects. Jake Gyllenhaal does an amazing job that should earn his at least an Oscar nomination. Jaime Foxx and Peter Sarsgard are excellent in their supporting roles as well. This movie is very well acted and the strong performances help give the movie a feel that you are the only one in the theater and you are right there with them. Sam Mendes produces beautiful shots in a bleak desert. The movie is suspenseful, Sad, Funny, and Exciting all at the same time. There are times when you want to laugh but you can't. I found this movie to have a bipartisan view on war, military, and politics. This is one man's point of view on a conflict that hundred's of thousands participated in. Please go see this movie. YOu will not be disappointed. I do feel however that this will not be a major contender come Oscar season.
War is Dull (So is this Film)
posted on 06 Aug 2009Sam Mendes does not make many films so when he does, expectations are high. "Jarhead" is a highly critical look at the United States Marine Corps based on a book by a slacker ex-Marine. Apparently Sam Mendes, a Briton, does not like the Marines.This film might say more about a non-American's view of the American military than anything else. At one point in the film the narrator says "We are all insane...," pauses, then finishes the sentence. That pretty much sums up the entire film and for 2 hours we watch what idiots these people are. There are no likable or sympathetic characters in the entire film.Overall, this does not make for a very entertaining film. The first 10 minutes are pretty funny but after that it gets to be the same thing over and over.The film is not very original and there are several references to older, better films about the United States military. Like some of those other films, this one uses substantial use of pop music of the time period depicted in the film and it gets really annoying if you don't like that type of music. The film is noisy despite no actual combat scenes.The acting and photography are first rate. If you are a Chris Cooper fan, he is in the movie for only about 2 minutes.Many Americans are going to hate this film because of the way it depicts the United States Marine Corps. I didn't like it because it was dull,annoying, and derivative.
Bullets, bullets everywhere, but not a shot to shoot
posted on 31 Jul 2009JARHEAD (15) DIR: SAM MENDESIn case anybody was unsure, war is apparently hell. Just ask Captain Benjamin Willard in Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now (1979). Or Private Chris Taylor in Oliver Stone's Platoon (1986). Not to mention Private Ryan. Hell even Forrest Gump told us that (But you ain't got no legs... etc etc). So why do we need to learn this again? Going into Jarhead, all that was on my mind was that it was the new film from the director of American Beauty, starring the man from Brokeback Mountain (which I loved). So even if I already knew that war was indeed hell, I might as well hear their side of it, not being familiar with Anthony Swofford's novel.The film starts out showing the various dehumanising techniques that the grunts go through. Incredibly nasty drill instructors sapping any spirit that these young pretenders may have had, the main character then doubting his decision to join the marines, and of course, lots of boisterous marines behaving impetuously. Anthony Swofford (Jake Gyllenhaal) and his friend Troy (Peter Sarsgaard) are training to become snipers. To them it's great. A chance to finally see some action. Instead of being behind a desk doing mindless office work. But once the war starts, the action seems to have taken a vacation. And that's what Jarhead is all about. The banality of modern war, and the obsolete soldier who is sent to fight it.The motif of Jarhead is pretty similar to the war films that we have already been enduring ever since the end of Vietnam. There was nothing in the opening twenty minutes that I hadn't seen in Stanley Kubrick's overlooked Full Metal Jacket (1989). At the beginning of the film the protagonist is somewhat reserved. An apprehensive intellect who reads Camus and is doing his duty in light of his father, who served in Vietnam. As the film goes on, he is eventually one of the boys, and to some degree is in fact a leader to the boys, which made me think of Platoon (1986). Even David O. Russel's superior Three Kings (1999) covers a lot of themes being discussed by Sam Mendes. The cast are all very good. Jake Gyllenhaal now has the tag of the intellectual leading man. Jamie Foxx is hitting so many high points at this point in his career it's hard to believe he used to do Saturday Night Live. But the film's biggest strengths lie in it's cinematography and it's black humour. There is one scene in which the soldiers sit down and watch Apocalypse Now with sadistic and ironic glee. These are men who want to fight, but don't need to. And as such, end up driving each other mad. The modern soldier is not one who is pelted with bullets and fights his way through the mud. As the protagonist says in his voice-over "There is no solution for mental unbalance". It is not anti-war, nor is it pro-war. It is merely questioning the position of the modern soldier. He is taught the love his rifle, and to be prepared ALWAYS. But for what? Where is the danger? And in the heat of the desert, with his fingers itching over the tempestuous trigger, what is he to do? There is one scene later in the film where a Vietnam war veteran jumps on one of the parading trucks with all the marines. He tearfully embraces the soldiers, and congratulates them on winning. It is perhaps the darkest, and yet funniest moment in the film. Vietnam was a both a mental and physical hell. Kuwait was a mental and physical bore fest. And whilst a film about boredom never looks good on paper, Sam Mendes has done enough to make it both engaging and insightful, even it is reminiscent of superior work gone by.
would not recommend
posted on 27 Jul 2009When I go see a war movie I want a good plot and lots of action. This movie had neither. It dragged on and on. It contained visualization matter that you would be embarrassed to see while accompanied with your son, daughter or wife. If your looking for a movie that shows life in Iraq like in the TV series Over There this isn't it. It's rude, profane, and it drags. Hollywood could have down better. The ending lets you down giving you the feeling you get like when you see the star cast member die in the final scene. With such a great cast they could have done so much more but didn't. It is a combination of combining a few great visual clips combines with a few good lines. Waste your money somewhere else.
Strong movie
posted on 27 Jul 2009I thought the movie was compelling in its own right and touched many angles on humanity and human struggle. Camera movements and stills were right on to the story and very striking. The acting became very emotional at times and involved me very much so. Sarsgaard's performance at the end was particularly compelling and really showed the struggle of the marines. I voted it a nine out of ten as I thought it to the likes of Full Metal Jacket and Black Hawk Down. The film is not about politics, nor does it ignore them. It simply tells the story and from that reaches many aspects of human struggle and human relationships. The scene where Swoff (Jake Gyllenhaal) cannot finish masturbation to his girl back home whom he suspects of cheating was strong. Ernest Ozuna did a great job with his character that is so easily relatable to the Seargent in Full Metal Jacket, and so making the role that much more challenging. I would also recommend it as a DVD purchase when that is available.
'Gritty', yet 'dreamy' take on the effects war
posted on 27 Jul 2009Solid performances by Fox (enjoyble to watch as a marine-lifer)and Gyllenhaal make 'Jarhead' a worthwhile time at the theatre. Mendes's film made me recall many tales of war, yet puts a completely new spin on this genre. At times I felt as if he was paying homage to such films as 'Fullmetal Jacket' and 'Platoon' to even a Kurt Vonnegut novel (there are some interesting characters tied with elements of the surreal), however this movie feels differently due to the type of war Operation Dessert Storm was. I feel Mendes perfectly captures the psyche of these soldiers in the type of hurry-up-and-wait marine mentality of this war, by the time Gyllenhaal sees his first and only action we can feel the tension and release when he gets his call to duty. One of the strongest and most realistic aspects of this film is the way the soldiers act in the environment they are in. This movie is very gritty in this aspect, giving one of the most realistic portrayals of a soldier being isolated away from home, from missing girlfriends to going crazy due to the exhaustion of war in general. At times I felt as if this film moved as a documentary due to the dialogue between its characters, it seemed as if they were not working from a script, but real life conversations. I especially liked the dream sequence in which Gyllenhaal misses his girlfriend (he pukes sand as he stares at his girlfriend's reflection in the mirror), you can feel his anxiety of being away from a loved one. This movie is a solid portrayal of what this type of war or any war can have on a soldier's psyche, no soldier is the same after he has held his rifle, this film proves it.
Jarhead
posted on 25 Jul 2009There have been comments posted that claim this movie was created by someone who hates the States, and or the Military. Some have posted that they were hoping for a hero, or a positive light on the Military, well as a former Marine (2/2 STA Platoon)who served in the Gulf War (Desert Shield / Desert Storm)I can tell you this Movie is great. It shows what happened to us all while in the desert, our fears, our games,the rumors> We all heard rumors of the infamous Video Tape (Many of us lost girlfriends.) If you are a former Marine, and served in the Gulf, you have to see this movie, it's a trip back in time, and for those who never served, see what the Corps is in real life.
Hauntingly Accurate
posted on 25 Jul 2009Jarhead is a round down range that hits center mass. I was feeling a bit sick to my stomach while watching this film because it brought all the old memories I have of serving with the active duty U.S. Marines six years ago. I remember having the same thoughts as Swofford while training and standing down. This is a great movie, I always wondered how film should capture today's Marine Corps. Jarhead accurately represents how the Corps really works for non-rates and low ranking NCO's today (minus the some of the hazing), therefore it captured my Marine Corps experience almost perfectly. The reason I always wondered how film should capture the way I saw the Corps was that my job in the Corps was as a combat videographer. I often tried to picture in my mind's eye how my supposedly action packed experience would look like if I was on the big screen. I became depressed and loathsome because my Marine experience was dreadful and almost pitiful, I figured no one in their right mind would ever want to see what was going on around me. This movie proved me wrong.
Nothing new here
posted on 15 Jul 2009When I first heard about this production I had quite hopes of seeing something fresh. I was therefore disappointed in the end result now the movie has finally hit the UK. I think the movie doesn't know whether to be an intelligent independent style movie or a full on studio blockbuster. The real problem I had with the movie is that it's very hard to have any real feelings for any of the characters. You are therefore left feeling rather cold throughout the movie.The movie follows a few marines during the first gulf war. We follow them from their original training through to the conclusion of the war. I believe this has been touted as an anti war movie. I had difficulty in seeing exactly where this point was made, but there again maybe our 24/7 television news culture is probably making most of us in the west somewhat desensitised to violence.This isn't a bad movie it's just not in the same league as Full Metal Jacket which really does shock you into a reaction.
It sucked
posted on 13 Jul 2009The movie sucked ass it was the worst $10 i ever spent. This is why people download movies. If you advertise something as a WAR movie then freaking KILL something. In the whole movie only one person died, and that was a wuss who got shot in training. And near the end when they are JUST about to kill somebody. Nope lets bomb them instead so we don't see them dead. It freaking sucked ass, it seemed more like a joke. It made the military seem like fun and a gay place as the men would pretend to rape each other.Its not worth it if you want to see sh*t blow up. If you want a war movie without any actual war and a bunch of sissy emotional crap. This is it.
The underlying story
posted on 11 Jul 2009Excellent movie/casting. But it's not a political, pro/anti-war movie. Its view of the Corps is amoral.But it does appear to be making a judgment in the climactic scene at the airport tower.The two major players aren't individuals, but rather the ground forces and air power--the latter being mostly off screen and which the movie apparently takes a dim view of, at least in that situation. The Gulf War was the first, and maybe last, war almost exclusively fought and won by air power.The Iraq war has corrected that. And for those who believe these wars were for oil, why did we leave Iraq and Kuait then? Why aren't we taking the oil from Iraq now? Over the years, that's been one of the most absurd, knee jerk responses on the approved talking points list.
The military is what it is, so take it or leave it. War is not all we do.
posted on 28 Aug 2009I am US Marine, so my take on this movie was a lil different than that of most critics and or civilians. I thought the movie was an excellent one that depicts the everyday life of a MARINE (Not soldier). OHH holy stuff, there is not as much actions as some people might have liked, well WELCOME TO THE MILITARY, ALL WE DO IS "HURRY UP AND WAIT" What? do u really think we are out fighting 24/7. This is a movie which every MARINE (past or present), Nevy Corpsmen attached to Marines, Army Infantry, and maybe some Airmen and Sailors can relate to it too. To all civilians thinking about joining the Corps thats exactly what it's like. This is not a war movie or a drama, its a DOCUMENTARY about the Marine Corps and the experience of One Marine. I was in the theater with half a company of MERINES and trust me, not one uf us didn't relate to it. Every character in that movie depicts the broad range of people in the Corps. So watch it at u own risk, with an open mind expecting the truth about Todays Marine Corps and nothing else. Marines are a special breed and it takes courage to do what we do, hell to take courage just to sign ur life away no matter what branch of the military u do it in. So great movie, very accurate about the expectations and the life of Marines at post and at war when not fighting.